The great reset, not that one.

[Slick_50]

No not Boris's.
Mine.
I'm having a mid career crisis, well the industry is.
Civils is killing me and for those in the know, know I'm not wrong it's going a bad path.
I've got a couple options and one the glorious members on here said I would do well to bring my ideas here for scrutinizing and advice.

Based off my budget and skill set.
Grab 18t (potentially) or just a regular 8 legger.
Agri contracting (rural area huge veg growers everywhere)
Or keep it simple few diggers and get out finding the groundworks.

Please, do rip this apart Id prefer to hear the truth from experienced folks.

 

[JD450A]

Sell it all and go into Pogostick hire for the Millennial market.

 

[Slick_50]

Problem solved. mods, lock thread please! *

*Please don't really

 

[Smiffy]

Sod the grab lorry I don't know what other areas are like but but within 15miles I would guess at there being over 50 grab firms probably nearer 100.
There is one village near Gatwick with 6 or 7 grab yards.

If you fancy agri contracting you could see if there are any digestate contracts going or maybe sewage sludge contracts.
That or drainage as everything keeps flooding

 

[Shovelhands]

Sell it all and go into Pogostick hire for the Millennial market.

Be careful telling everyone your plans, they could end up your competition....

 

[Slick_50]

Sod the grab lorry I don't know what other areas are like but but within 15miles I would guess at there being over 50 grab firms probably nearer 100.
There is one village near Gatwick with 6 or 7 grab yards.

If you fancy agri contracting you could see if there are any digestate contracts going or maybe sewage sludge contracts.
That or drainage as everything keeps flooding

To be honest I'd not know where to start on finding the digestate contracts. My plan was to approach the growers round here. There is a large digester up the road from me tho.

 

[JD450A]

Be careful telling everyone your plans, they could end up your competition....

I'm just thinking of ways to spend my Bounce Back Loan.....

You know my views Slick..... Small things earn bigger coin.

 

[Slick_50]

I'm just thinking of ways to spend my Bounce Back Loan.....

You know my views Slick..... Small things earn bigger coin.

Just spend it on a range rover like everyone else and be done with it.

Yeah I get that, harder for me to get my head round that I thought it would be after owning and running a big(ish) firm. It's like I've been brainwashed

 

[JD450A]

Just spend it on a range rover like everyone else and be done with it.

Yeah I get that, harder for me to get my head round that I thought it would be after owning and running a big(ish) firm. It's like I've been brainwashed

Question is if you want to sit in a office chasing figures or fight in the Mud.

If it's the latter.... minimum investment, maximum profit.

 

[Slick_50]

Question is if you want to sit in a office chasing figures or fight in the Mud.

If it's the latter.... minimum investment, maximum profit.

I've spent the last 4 years running 100+ men wagons and machines, out winning work etc and more irritatingly chasing invoices. Hence the change of heart!

 

[Mogman]

I had 10 blokes working for me a good few years back and the best thing I did was get rid of the lot of them make less turn over but by fook can make some money on my own with no headache, I’m like an older version of @JD450A maybe not wiser but definitely older
Be first to find a niche in your area or do a better job then others

 

[Slick_50]

I had 10 blokes working for me a good few years back and the best thing I did was get rid of the lot of them make less turn over but by fook can make some money on my own with no headache, I’m like an older version of @JD450A maybe not wiser but definitely older
Be first to find a niche in your area or do a better job then others

Sounds advice there.
I hear ya with the blokes. It's ball ache at the best of times

 

[6feetdown]

I had 10 blokes working for me a good few years back and the best thing I did was get rid of the lot of them make less turn over but by fook can make some money on my own with no headache, I’m like an older version of @JD450A maybe not wiser but definitely older
Be first to find a niche in your area or do a better job then others

Same

 

[DaveDCB]

With thee on the employing staff, been tempting at times to go bigger but literally everyone I talk to says don’t! I have a good group of subbies who I can rely on and that’s plenty to deal with! Do what you’ve always wanted to do/love to do and it won’t matter what money you make

 

[doobin]

I've spent the last 4 years running 100+ men wagons and machines, out winning work etc and more irritatingly chasing invoices. Hence the change of heart!

You ran that lot and still can’t retire early?

Genuine question.

 

[Slick_50]

You ran that lot and still can’t retire early?

Genuine question.

Genuine answer, yes I could have retired about 2 years ago I bought a fair few buy to let's and invested well and don't live a flashy life but I'm only 33 so I'm not finished yet.

 

[TiltyShaun]

Genuine answer, yes I could have retired about 2 years ago I bought a fair few buy to let's and invested well and don't live a flashy life but I'm only 33 so I'm not finished yet.

The three most important rules now are the following.
1. Don’t lose your capital
2. See rule one
3. See rule two

 

[Slick_50]

The three most important rules now are the following.
1. Don’t lose your capital
2. See rule one
3. See rule two

Trust me mate this is why I've come for more advice I've got the fear for the first time in a long time! It's been a though few years don't wanna blow it on a dream now.

I hear Tesco's are hiring

 

[V8Druid]

think like most folk with any capital tied up or accrued, you're worried about having it taken from you ??? they are worrying times, I agree .... that prospect is seriously daunting

 

[Gunners]

I also did a great reset on my life a few years ago (well documented on here/ CE Forum) so understand where you are coming from although had nowhere near as many blokes or enough money to retire on But fast forward 3 years and I am now in a much better place for it.... I think...

It sounds like whatever you do, you don't need to do it full time initially, just something to fill the days and enjoy what you do. So the pressure of paying the bills every month isn't so critical and you can try a few things out without it really mattering too much.

If you still enjoy the "actual work" part of civils and just want to avoid the bullshit, then small groundwork/ owner operating a sub 3t digger isn't a bad living. I struggled to turn away my old clients though who were always pushing me to take on more than I wanted to again - because you haven't really left the game they still come knocking.

Working for someone else isn't to be ignored - chances are the right man would pay very strong money to have someone who understands what it takes to run blokes and a business and you could leave at the end of the day and not worry about it, whilst still enjoying some of the freedoms you currently have as its likely they will leave you to your own devices.

Sometimes a good holiday to clear the head can help get some thinking time in, downsizing is stressful in itself and I couldn't see any route out when I was going through that. Literally said to everyone I was giving it up completely, work in Tescos or something (quite possibly more profitable than working for some developers!) and it was only once I had got rid of the staff, financial ties, equipment etc that I could fully focus on what I was going to do next so don't panic if you don't know at the moment. It will become apparent in time.